It was a time and place where bright kids were mercilessly tormented

"This is in honor of Russell Johnson, who passed away today. He was the Professor on Gilligan's Island, and was my very first, and probably most important, role model. The photo was taken about the same time the show was first broadcast. That may seem silly to you, so let me explain. I was a little proto-geek forced to live in a small South Texas town after my parents divorced. It was a time and place where bright kids were mercilessly tormented, and it went far past mere teasing. For example, in Little League I was "accidentally" hit in the head with a baseball... after practice, and while standing in the parking lot waiting for my mom to pick me up. No one had any idea how it happened -- one of the adults helpfully theorized that it had been a foul ball from the field. And then this goofy show came on TV with a scientist character, and he wasn't some misunderstood loner genius or psychotic madman like in the movies. He was smart and resourceful, he didn't have to hide that he was intelligent, and he was respected, needed and loved by those around him. I hung onto The Professor like a lifeline, and I am very, very sad now that he's gone."

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"And then this goofy show came on TV with a scientist character, and he wasn't some misunderstood loner genius or psychotic madman like in the movies. He was smart and resourceful, he didn't have to hide that he was intelligent, and he was respected, needed and loved by those around him. I hung onto The Professor like a lifeline, and I am very, very sad now that he's gone."